S.Amdt. 2354

SA 2354. Mrs. CLINTON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 1072, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 678, between lines 5 and 6, insert the following:

(16) Congestion reduction reward fund.--For the congestion reduction reward fund established under section 129 of title 23, United States Code, $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2004 through 2009.

On page 6-39, line 5, strike the closing quotation marks and the following period.

On page 6-39, between lines 5 and 6, insert the following:

“(5) Congestion reduction reward fund.--

“(A) Establishment of fund.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a congestion reduction reward fund (referred to in this paragraph as the ‘Fund') to carry out subparagraph (B), consisting of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under section 1101(17) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003.

“(B) Grants.--

“(i) In general.--The Secretary may use amounts in the Fund to make competitive grants to States that implement a variable pricing program under this subsection.

“(ii) Application.--States shall submit to the Secretary applications for grants under clause (i).

“(iii) Selection.--From among applications submitted under clause (ii), the Secretary shall provide grants to applicants based on--

“(I) the size of the measurable reduction in congestion as a result of the variable pricing program;

“(II) the percentage reduction in congestion as a result of the variable pricing program;

“(III) the innovativeness of the variable pricing program;

“(IV) whether the variable pricing program addressed concerns relating to the social equity of the program; and

“(V) any other criteria that demonstrably improve the surface transportation system.

“(iv) Use of Funds.--Any amounts provided in the form of grants under this subparagraph may be used for any transportation projects that the grant recipients determine to be appropriate.

“(v) Number of grants.--The number of grants the Secretary provides under this subparagraph shall be determined by the Secretary, but the Secretary shall distribute all amounts available for grants to applicants selected under clause (iii).

“(vi) Redistribution.--If no State implements a variable pricing program, any amounts in the congestion reduction reward fund shall be distributed in accordance with section 133.”.